Salt & Humor

I planted arugula, kale and lettuce for our Fall garden last month.  It seems that the arugula is ready and I feel like I have almost been forgetting to get out there and well, EAT from our own garden.

Lacinato Kale

Roquette Arugula

Flashy Troutback Lettuce

I have honestly never heard of such a fancy named lettuce.  That is the surprise of growing it yourself I guess.  I also didn’t even realize that I would be able to plant and grow these this late in the season here in the North West.  I’m still learning, that’s for sure. I am very excited about the fancy Mr. Flashy Troutback though. (just seems like a guy’s name, right)

I think the lettuce and kale have a few more days to go so I picked the arugula for a salad this afternoon.

I had a simple salad with leftover beans and rice.  I am finding that I really like nutritional yeast.  I tried it last summer and wasn’t so sure.  I have been using it in sauces and dressings.  The other night I stirred about 1/3 cup in with brown rice, kidney beans and salsa. Let me just say, I was not expecting it to be as tasty as it was!

I must say, warm toppings for salads are my FAVORITE!

(topped with hemp seeds)

So, roquette arugula is very SPICY! I was definitely not expecting that.  Let’s just say I will be mixing it in with other greens from now on.

I almost couldn’t grab my camera fast enough to catch this little bit of amazement…

Nature is simply amazing! That’s all I have to say.

I am just going to show you what was the best thing I have eaten in a while!

This was some easy, peasy pre made polenta (roll) baked in oven, black bean burger, pico de gallo, avocado, cheese, sour cream and Cholula.  Wow, that was a mouth full! The pico de gallo was cherry tomatoes, jalapeno, corn, onion, lime juice and salt.  The easy black bean burgers were:

1 can black beans-well rinsed

1 egg white

1 clove garlic

2 t chopped onion

fresh jalapeno~ according to your spice preference

1 T tomato paste and 2 cherry tomatoes

1 t dried cilantro (because I was out of fresh)

1 t chili powder

1 t cumin

*5 T bread crumbs and 1 T buckwheat flour (experimenting with the flour)

1/2 t black pepper

I blended all ingredients except for the bread crumbs and about 1/3 of the beans. Here is where I forgot a few of the ingredients.

Once it was all blended, I slowly added the bread crumbs *(amount of bread crumbs always varies) and watched for the consistency that I wanted. I added the rest of the beans last so some would stay chunky. Then I formed them into patties on a parchment lined cookie sheet. They were too sticky to really form, so I just shaped with a spoon.

Cooked at 425 for maybe 20 minutes on each side.

Fairly easy dinner.  The only problem was that I went back for seconds.  It was that good!

Last night I roasted some veggies and topped with the rest of the Mezzetta marinara! Forgot to take a photo because I was on the phone. You get the picture though.

So, ever since I hurt my back and wasn’t able to exercise I really got out of the habit.  I have learned that I want to be so much more careful, as to prevent injuries. Not only because they hurt, but because of how bad it stops be from exercising.  It takes a lot for me to make exercise a regular habit, then dedication to stay motivated. Slowly, I am working on making it regular again. I did Jillian’s Boost Your Metabolism yesterday, but at only 1/2 strength I did the 30 day shred tonight and made up for it.  I will be leaving for Reno Wednesday night and have to get in as much exercise as possible.  I will be honest, I don’t usually do the best at working out when I travel. Excuses, excuses, right?  I guess what I am trying to say, is that I plan on working very hard on this little issue as soon a I return.

So, last night was taco night. Tacos are one of the best dinners around if you ask me.  I made black beans that we made into refried beans.

This was simpler than I was expecting.  Can’t take all the credit though.  Karla knows her black beans.  I have seen them pop up on her site several times. Finally I had to make them for myself. Check out her recipe. If you checked her out, then you will know where I my going with my lunch:arrow:

This meal was so darn good, that I have declared that I will be having the same thing tomorrow! 1 egg and 1 egg white, DKB with Sunbutter, and black beans.  Yes, that toast is a bit burnt. Is it crazy that I love burnt toast?

Backtracking to last night’s dinner.  I was telling myself that I would just have a taco salad and not have a tortilla.  Well, schucks, I had two!

This ended up making me way to full.  This is no surprise.  I think I always have a full belly ache on taco night. It is the one dinner, I have a hard time stopping when I am full. I griped and complained, then finally told myself to just do better next time!

I woke up an knew just what I needed.

That is much better! I love how juice can make you feel so good.

Jason and I met with a photographer this morning.  It was a Christmas gift from my dear cousin. I was stunned when I saw some of her work that she did for her and a friend.  She is from Chicago, but was visiting family.  We lucked out! I am soooo excited to see the prints.  The best part of all was that it wasn’t raining when we met her.  I was pretty nervous that it would.  I woke up to rain and we drove to meet her downtown in the pouring rain.  It stopped raining within 5 minutes of our meeting up with her.  I kid you not!! I had a lot of fun.  I realized again, just how much I love Jason! He is my best friend and I adore him!

I passed on the tortillas and cheese tonight.  Taco salad it was.

I did not make the bed today, however, some folks did not mind.